Controller for apparatus used in utilizing mercury arc lamps



C. T. EVANS. I CONTROLLER FOR APPARATUS USED IN UTILIZING MERCURY ARC LAMPS.

APPLICATION FILED APR-4,19I7.

I Patented Dec. 5, 1922.

lfl'etented Dec. 5, 1922.

CLARENCE Tl EVANS, F MILWAUKEE, "WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO THE (JITILER-v HAMMER MFG. 00.,"0F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OFWIS- cous n.

CONTROLLER FOR APPARATUS USED IN UTILIZING MERCURY ARC LAMPS.-

Anulieation filed April 4,

To mZl whom it my concern:

Be it known that I, CLARENCE T. E ANS, a citizen of. the United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Controllers for Apparatus Used in Utilizing Mercury Arc Lamps, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification.

This invention relates to controllers for apparatus utilizing mercury arc lamps and the like and is particularly applicable to controllers for ultra .violet ray sterilizers for flowing fluids.

In such a sterilizer it is desired to jointly control the sterilizing lamp and the fluid supply for starting of the lamp prior to initiation of the flow of fluid and for termination of the flow of fluid upon extinguishment of the lamp and the present invention has among its objects to provide improved control means for such sterilizers and the like, including means for automatically repeating starting operation of the lamp or lamps thereof u'p'on failure of the same to start in response to initial operation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear. 7

The accompanying drawing illustrates schematically and diagrammatically one embodiment of the invention which will now be described, it being understood that the embodiment' illustrated is susceptible of various modifications Without departing from the scope ofthe appended claims.

' Referrin to the drawing, the same shows schematicafiy a mercury arc lamp 1 to be 40 utilized for sterilizing flowing fluids and a valve 2 for controlling the supply of fluid to be subjected to the action of said lamp. The lamp is supported by a pivotal bracket 3 and as will be understood the same must be tilted for starting, or in other words, to

strike an arc.

The control means illustrated comprises an electro-magnetically operated device 4 1917. Serial No. 159,810.

for starting the lamp 1, a solenoid 5 for opening the valve 2 and an electromagnetic switch 6 for controlling the circuit of solenoid 5. Also, the control means includes resistances r and r in the lamp circuit, the former being permanentlyincluded in said circuit and the latter being adapted to be short-circuited by switch 6. T

The device 4 comprises a recip-rocablemember carrying a bracket 7 supporting the free end of the lamp, 'a rock shaft 8 to recipro cate said member through the medium of an arm 9, a solenoid 10 to rock said shaft to the medium of an arm 11 fixed to the latter, and a dash-pot 12 to retard the movement of said reciprocable member. The solenoid 10 is providedwith an operating winding 10 and a holding winding 10 and a switch 13 is associated v with the device to make and break the circuit of the former winding. The movable element of this switch is carried by an insulated extension 8 of shaft 8, being oscillated thereon, and said extension is provided with an arm 14 connected to said switch ele- "ment through a coil spring 15 for alternately shifting said element, to circuit -making and breaking positions and with. a snap action, upon oscillation of said shaft. Normally the device 4 assumes the position illustrated, with its switch 13 in closed position and upon operation by solenoid 10 it raises the lamp to arcing or starting position and thereupon shifts the switch 13 to interrupt the circuit of the operating winding '10. Thus the device 4: is rendered depend- The switch 6 is of the so-called lockout type, having an operating winding 16 and a lockout winding 17 connected in series with one another, the latter winding serving to hold the switch against operation by the former winding when the current therethrou'gh exceeds a given value. Also, both windings are connected in series with the lamp 1 thereby rendering response of the switch dependent upon establishment of an are by the lamp and upon the current value of the lamp circuit which is varied by the lamp. That is to say, the counter volt-- age of the lamp inherently increases after.

violet rays and its counter voltage has been suficiently increased to warrant exclusion of resistance 1".

Thus with the control means connected as illustrated, it will be observed that the same will respond automatically upon closure of line switch 18 to first start the'lamp, tilting the same as many times as may be necessary for striking of an arc,and then energize the valve opening solenoid and short-circuit resistance 1" but only after operation of the lamp for an adequate period to produce ultra violet rays and to protect the circuit against exclusion of saidresistance. On the other hand, opening of the line switch 18 or breaking of the arc of lamp 1 will simultaneously de-energize solenoid 5 for termination of the fluid supply and open the lamp circuit and will moreover de-energize switch 6 and device 4 to permit the same to resume their respective normal positions for the next operation.

Tracing the circuits, that of the lamp normally extends from line L through line switch 18 by conductors 19 and 20 through said lamp, by conductor 21 through winding 10 and resistances 1 and 1", by conductor 22 through windings 17 and 16, by conductors 23 and 24 to and through the line switch to line L. When switch 6 responds circuit is established from the right hand terminal of resistance 1-, by conductor 25 to contact 6 of said switch and thence through said switch to a point between windings 16 and 17 thereby shunting the latter together with resistance r. The circuit of the operating winding of device 4 extends from conductor 19 by conductor 26 through switch 13, by conductor 27 through said winding to conductor 24. Lastly the circuit of winding 5 extends from conductor 19 by 1. In combination, a mercury arc lamp,

means to operate said lamp intermittently to cause the same to strike an are and to thereupon arrest said lamp and automatic means to Vary the resistance of the circuit of said lamp, but only after establishment of an arc and reduction of the current in said lamp circuit to a predetermined value.

2. In combination, a mercury arc lamp, means for operating said lamp to cause the same to strike an arc, a resistance normally included in the circuit of said lamp and elec-' tro-magnetic means forremoving said resistance, said means being dependent for energlzation upon establishment of an arc and being subject torestraint against response by the current of said lamp circuit so long as the same exceeds a predetermined value.

3. In an ultra violet ray sterilizer for flowing fluids, in combination, a mercury arc lamp, means to operate said lamp to strike an arc, and means controlling the flow of fluid to be sterilized, said last mentioned means being dependent upon establishment of an are by said" lamp and upon the current conditions of the lamp circuit for initiation of'the flow of fluid.

4. In an ultra violet ray sterilizer for flowing fluids, in combination, a mercury arc lamp, means to operate said lamp to strike anarc, and means controlling the flow of fluid to be sterilized, said last mentioned means being dependent upon establishment of an are by said lamp and upon the current condition of the lamp circuit for initiation of the flow of fluid and being adapted to terminate the flow of fluid upon interruption of the arc of said lamp.

'5. In a sterilizing apparatus for flowing fluids, in combination, a mercury arc lamp, means to operate said lampto strike an arc,

-means controlling the flow of fluid to be sterilized and common means to vary the resistance of the circuit of said lamp and to cause said second mentioned means to initiate the flow of fluid but only after establishment of an arc and restriction of the current of the lamp circuit to a definite value.

6. In combination, a mercury arc lamp, an associated but separately operable device and means including an electromagnetic switch subjected to the current flowing through said lamp, to jointly control said lamp and said device, said switch rendering the operation of said device dependentupon starting of: said lamp and establishment of predetermined current conditions in the circuit of said lamp.

7. In combination, a mercury arc lamp, an

maa eeo associated electroresponsive device, a circuit for said lamp initially including a resistance and means to effect starting of said lamp and response of said device, said means including an electromagnetic switch responsive to exclude said resistance and to energize said device but being subjected to the current of said lamp circuit to render its response dependent upon prior establishment of the are of said lamp and reduction of the lamp current to a predetermined value.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name,

CLARENCE T. EVANS. 

